This is wonderful. I e-mailed you the DWB acknowledgement, and will forward the confirm when rec'd. I'd like to add 2 Brunello's to the prize pool. An '03 La Rasino and an '04 Siro Pacenti . I'll ship free anywhere we are currently permitted within continental US. Thanks for organizing.

Indeed, I don't think someone not participating in this thread means anything. Lots of possibilities:Many people prefer not to make public any giving they doSome people made their contributions before we started this thread-they didn't need to be prompted.Some people have no interest in the raffle prizes, so didn't send in infoOthers might have personal circumstances that prevent them from giving right now

I personally believe you can determine nothing about someone from their not being on this thread.

I've already contributed to International Rescue Committee and will PM Dale with proof. (I will also contribute to Episcopal Relief and Development Fund at the request of my church.) I would also like to donate some bottles--probably a limited production Pinot Noir or two or three but will decide details later this week. Hope I can ship to New York without problems. (Or do we hold the wines until the winner is declared and ship directly to them?)

Dale Williams wrote:Indeed, I don't think someone not participating in this thread means anything. Lots of possibilities:Many people prefer not to make public any giving they doSome people made their contributions before we started this thread-they didn't need to be prompted.Some people have no interest in the raffle prizes, so didn't send in infoOthers might have personal circumstances that prevent them from giving right now

I personally believe you can determine nothing about someone from their not being on this thread.

COW AND THE DONKEY

The Hodja had a little stable and a nice donkey. He hadn't wanted to buy a cow, because his donkey would be disturbed and he hadn't much money neither. But his wife wanted to have a cow and she convinced him at last.The Hodja couldn't stand against his wife, so he bought a cow and put it in the stable. But the stable was small and they couldn't stay quiet in it. The Hodja who got tired of that said:

“Dear God, kill this cow and save my donkey”.

A few days later the Hodja entered the stable and saw the dead donkey and the living cow.

“Dear God”, he said. “You have been God for so many years but still, you cannot distinguish a cow from a donkey!”

I'm new here- your fundraising idea caught my eye, and I couldn't help but sign up for your discussion group. Hope you don't mind if some day I copy it for one of our fundraisers!

We will be donating to Doctor's without Borders, and will send in receipt later today.

I would also like to donate a couple of bottles of our estate wines ( can only send to states where we can ship legally): One bottle of our 2006 Rocca Family Vineyards Syrah, Yountville (just selected as a Top Ten Wine of the Year by Connoisseur's Guide), and also a bottle of our 2006 Rocca Cabernet Sauvignon.Whoever gets this is also welcome to come by for a tasting on us, once our new tasting room opens up later this year.

Dale Williams wrote:Indeed, I don't think someone not participating in this thread means anything. Lots of possibilities:Many people prefer not to make public any giving they doSome people made their contributions before we started this thread-they didn't need to be prompted.Some people have no interest in the raffle prizes, so didn't send in infoOthers might have personal circumstances that prevent them from giving right now

I personally believe you can determine nothing about someone from their not being on this thread.

COW AND THE DONKEY

The Hodja had a little stable and a nice donkey. He hadn't wanted to buy a cow, because his donkey would be disturbed and he hadn't much money neither. But his wife wanted to have a cow and she convinced him at last.The Hodja couldn't stand against his wife, so he bought a cow and put it in the stable. But the stable was small and they couldn't stay quiet in it. The Hodja who got tired of that said:

“Dear God, kill this cow and save my donkey”.

A few days later the Hodja entered the stable and saw the dead donkey and the living cow.

“Dear God”, he said. “You have been God for so many years but still, you cannot distinguish a cow from a donkey!”

I know you're joking, and certainly lots of "olive oil" has been shipped. We also understand that while I might be willing to take a chance sending my lot somewhere where it might not be quite clear of the legalities, a different situation prevails for those who make their living from wine. I wouldn't ask Steve or Mary (and maybe Pat from his post might be a retailer) to do anything they're uncomfortable with.

Once the drawings start, I'll make sure each lot's donor and winner have respective contact info. If a good shipment option can't be found, please contact me and I'll try and work out something. This is for a good cause, paired with having some fun, and lots of people will be willing to help. For example, If a winner is in Alabama and shipping is hard, we'll see if someone goes to Atlanta periodically. If someone in BC won, I might ask Jenise to be receiver. If Matilda wins, we'll figure out something!

A few other thoughts:Currently there are 67 donors. So there's a one-third chance that some number might come up with no corresponding winner. I plan on re-entering my prize as #11 in that case, but there is no obligation to do so. We originally said unmatched prizes revert to owner, and we shouldn't change rules, and no one should be pressured to do so. This is supposed to make us feel like a community, but not a cult.

I wish everyone could win, but in any case odds are a lot better than most raffles. I hope the winners enjoy their prizes. Again, no pressure, but if one wanted to extend the giving, one option is for the winners to use prize to raise a little more money. Last time a few winners held dinners- I won a 75 Lafite generously donated by Howie, and we used it as a centerpiece of a Bordeaux centric dinner we charged our friends $100 donations to charity for (and when one person heard the story of how its was Howie's anniversary wine, and how his late wife would have been happy for it to go to a good cause, chipped in double). That might not be doable for everyone, but it's just a thought.

There are quite a few people who signed up who have been lurkers in the past, and others who found this forum as this raffle was emailed and tweeted. I hope some/most of you stick around and participate in future. Welcome!

I have to recheck spreadsheet, but I believe we're at a little over $5,000, not counting the people who preferred to pass along partial receipts w/o amounts (and I'm guessing from past experience that includes some larger donors). In the face of such enormous need, that's just a drop in the botte (much bigger than a bucket, and more appropriate for this forum). But it's money that wasn't there before, and so many peoples lives will be saved/improved. I've been blessed to be the one who has read the great notes that accompanied these confirmations, there's a lot of good people in this community. Thanks all.

And hey, more than 2 days to first drawing, and couple weeks till final drawing, we've got room for more donors!

Dale Williams wrote: So there's a one-third chance that some number might come up with no corresponding winner. I plan on re-entering my prize as #xx

Same with my prize.

Also, I'm not itb, however, I'm sorry but I will not ship my prize as "olive oil". As I posted before, shipping is on me to anywhere in the continental US that's permissible by law. Otherwise, the winner will have to arrange for a legal and reasonable method to receive my prize.

Edited to add: I wasn't around to see how things worked out during the Katrina raffle. Bless those people who received shipment for those that can't. Also, kudos to Dale who's initiated and is keeping this properly organized. I dont' intend to be difficult with my donated prize, I just want it clear that I want to do the proper way.

Just so people realize, back when we did the Katrina raffle there were plenty of willing folks who helped transport the wines. Somehow this will all work out. It's not like we're dealing with eggs that will go bad in a few weeks.

There behind the glass lies a real blade of grass. Be careful as you pass. Move along. Move along.

David M. Bueker wrote:Just so people realize, back when we did the Katrina raffle there were plenty of willing folks who helped transport the wines. Somehow this will all work out. It's not like we're dealing with eggs that will go bad in a few weeks.

I was certainly not being serious (note the wink emote), and would not wish to bring legal trouble upon anyone. Unfortunately, I live in a State that is most unfriendly to shipment of alcohol; more fortunately, I have siblings in Georgia, which I believe is a bit more accommodating, should I be one of the lucky winners.

In any case, it is all for a good cause, and the beleagured Haitians certainly need all the help they can get these days.